The Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys will go to mediation on Aug. 18.
Magistrate Judge Susan Gauvey of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland signed the mediation order last Thursday, according to a court filing.
Related: UnitedHealth, Amedisys plan divestiture of up to 128 locations
The companies would not comment on the order, while the Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The mediation order is the latest turn in UnitedHealth Group’s nearly 20-month quest to acquire home health and hospice provider Amedisys.
UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys agreed in June 2023 to the proposed acquisition in an all-cash deal. Amedisys spurned a previous $3.6 billion all-stock bid from infusion company Option Care Health
The Justice Department under former President Joe Biden sued UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys last fall, alleging the combination would stifle competition in the home health and hospice industries. The companies filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on grounds the government failed to disclose which counties would be adversely impacted by the deal. They dropped that request earlier this year after the government disclosed the markets where the combined companies would constrain competition.
UnitedHealth Group operates home health and hospice locations in 37 states under its LHC Group subsidiary. Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Amedisys offers home health, hospice and hospital-at-home services in 40 states.
